Outdoor Environments Blog

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Decks are great outdoor places. When arranging seating, it can be annoying to use patio sets that wither under weather and require quick replacements. For your deck you should try built-in benches.

Built-in benches offer some great benefits for outdoor living rooms and kitchens. Now, the first concern when remodeling a deck and adding seating is that it will stand out. A quick trick to use is to make the benches out of the same material as deck so that it looks like it’s original.

You can even personalize the benches with some patio cushions and even some nice throw pillows. It adds comfort for you and your guests. As a plus, if you decide to go with built-in benches that also have storage, you can have a place to store your cushions and pillows when not in use.

These benches not only provide great seating options but for larger decks, they can be used as a barrier instead of just protective rails. The cushions hide and comfort the benches when you have guests and you can preserve them from the weather by storing them when the deck isn’t in use. Seating, comfort, rails, and storage all in one.

For the best outdoor deck construction and design in Kansas City, look no further than the experts at Outdoor Environments.

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If you have painstakingly constructed a garden outside of your Kansas City home only to find that despite your efforts, it appears as dull and two dimensional, one way to add color, depth, and texture to such an outdoor space is the addition of a bridge.

In the realm of exterior remodeling ideas, bridges come across as one of the most beautiful and diverse, simply because they integrate flawlessly into any type of garden. More importantly, a flowing river is not required to merit a bridge because one can just as easily be incorporated into dry rock beds, pathways, or grass.

Incorporating and matching a bridge to other exterior remodeling ideas is not as difficult as you may think. This is because a wooden bridge can be built in a variety of styles with the use of different woods, different accents, and different stains. By the same token, a bridge with stone or metal accents can blend into most any scenery or create a stark yet beautiful contrast.

Outdoor Environments can help you to design, build, and situate your bridge in order to make it the true focal point of your garden. Please contact us at 913-897-2706 for more information.

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Building a deck as part of your exterior remodeling project is a great way to add beauty to your yard and living space to your home.   As a homeowner, you might think you need a lot of room for a deck, but if you’re short on space, don’t worry.  A deck with multiple levels might be the solution for you.

Some of the nicest decks in Kansas City feature multiple levels.  What makes this design so popular?  Multilevel decks create architectural and visual interest while maximizing your use of both the vertical and horizontal space in your yard.  This makes them a good choice for small or sloping lots.  If your house has two or more stories, a multilevel deck provides ready access to the outdoors from all levels of the home.

Multilevel decks offer other benefits as well. They help easily define spaces for specific purposes, like lounging or dining.  Finally, a deck with multiple levels can be strategically designed to take advantage of your backyard’s microclimates and daily patterns of sunlight and shade.

For more ideas on multilevel decks in Kansas City, contact Outdoor Environments at (913) 897-2706.

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When you are searching for exterior remodeling ideas to add interest to your home, you might want to consider the addition of a shade arbor. Shade arbors can give you both the feeling of being enclosed while staying open to nature.

You can use your shade arbor in a variety of ways.  They are a wonderful opportunity to grow plants that will vine around the exterior of the shade arbor, giving it a natural, cottage garden-style appearance. Your shade arbor could have nice benches underneath it for a relaxing spot to sit and have comfortable conversation in your yard.  You could even add a hot tub underneath it for a luxurious outdoor space.

Shade arbors can be somewhat complicated to build. Concrete footings need to be poured to hold your main posts. You will want to use a wood that resists rot and insects. The cuts on the boards need to be accurate. It is recommended to use a professional to build your shade arbor.

We at Outdoor Environments would be happy to help build a custom shade arbor for your home in Kansas City.  In addition to building shade arbors, we also build decks, gazebos, and room additions.  Contact us by calling 913-897-2706 to get your outdoor area looking the way you want it.

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If you have a small yard surrounding your Kansas City home, it is important that the area becomes cozy and not cramped. While it can be challenging to make a small yard feel comfortable, there are some tricks to make the most of the small space. The following are a few exterior remodeling ideas to get your creative juices flowing and to help you design an outdoor area that works.

• Use Warmth and Light – A fire pit adds instant coziness to an outdoor area, and good outdoor lighting can really open up the space.

• Use Layers – Create layers in your area, such as a concrete patio layer that leads to a brick walkway layer, which leads to a green area. Use different levels and steps to make the spaces feel more expansive.

• Double Duty – Some features can have more than one function. For example, use a small wall to divide the space as well as to provide a shelf for plants or seating for guests.

• Create Curving Paths – Curving paths that connect different areas of your yard are not only functional, but their meandering nature can make the space feel larger as you stroll along them.

For more information about creating a cozy outdoor area for your home, contact Outdoor Environments at 913-897-2706.  We’ll be happy to help you make a small yard into a dream destination!

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If you’re contemplating the thought of introducing an element of luxury to your outdoor living space, what better way to do that then to add a hot tub? The following are a few exterior remodeling ideas that you can use to incorporate a hot tub into your outdoor design.

• Open Hot Tub – Keep the hot tub open to its surroundings in order to give it a more natural and airy feel. Be sure to add a variety of plant life in the nearby vicinity to give it a pleasant, outdoorsy atmosphere.

• Elegant Hot Tub – Go for luxury by building a pergola over the hot tub. You can hang outdoor curtains from the top in order to introduce a feeling of privacy.

• Enclosed Hot Tub – Build your hot tub so that it sits under the roof of your house, yet remains open to the outside. This gives it a feeling of being part of the home as well as the outdoors.

These are a few ideas worth thinking about when planning to integrate a hot tub in your exterior design. Outdoor Environments can help you design and build an enclosure for your hot tub.  Contact us at 913-897-2706 for more information.

Adding a deck for the outside space of your home is a great way to not only add value and curb appeal to your property, but also to add an aesthetically-appealing alternative “go to” space for friends and family to gather.

Return on investment for decks is twofold.  There’s the literal financial return you will experience if you decide to put your home on the market, and there’s the personal satisfaction gain while enjoying family picnics, backyard BBQ brouhahas, or individual moments of enjoying the vista from the comfort and safety of your new deck.

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Adding a deck to your home’s outdoor space has a positive impact on the value of the property, the appearance of the neighborhood, and the enjoyment of all the individuals who utilize the new space.  There are several factors that can increase the return on investment for decks even further, including the type of material used and the design of the deck.

If you want to add a deck to your home in Kansas City, contact Outdoor Environments at 913-897-2706.

Pergola by Outdoor Environments

Making proper use of your pergola space is important. Adding custom lights to your pergola can give it a romantic feeling that’s hard to match. Valentine’s Day is right around the corner, so if you’ll be spending any time outdoors, this idea is probably right up your alley!

As outdoor remodeling trends continue to grow more sophisticated, people are continually looking for ways to transform their plain Jane pergola into a warm, romantic haven, and a well-planned lighting scheme is the perfect way to accomplish this.

Good lighting schemes add an ambiance of warmth and coziness to your pergola, not to mention a romantic touch. Imagine a romantic resort vacation. Now imagine it in your own backyard. Whatever type of feel you’re looking to accomplish, there is a lighting scheme that will fit the bill. Some lights can even be left out for use all year round.

And generally there’s no need to worry about whether or not they will scorch your greenery, because outdoor lights for structures are designed not to get too hot. The options truly are limitless as you can choose from normal string lights, colored lights, LED lights and many more.

If your Kansas City outdoor space isn’t yet equipped with a pergola, why not have us add one for you? Visit the Outdoor Environments Facebook page to see examples of our work all over the city!

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New Sunroom by Outdoor Environments

Sunrooms are great additions to many homes, but deciding that you want or need one isn’t a decision that should be taken lightly. Where should it be located? What will you use it for? And how much does a sunroom even cost?

Location
Since your new sunroom may well become a family hang out, putting it in the right location is key. Choosing an area close to the kitchen will ensure that meals will be pleasurable, and food will be accessible. Even still, there are plenty of other uses for a sunroom, all of which will directly affect where it can and should be located.

Function
If you plan on using your sunroom solely for dining, then off of the kitchen is ideal, but a sunroom can be so much more than a dining area. If you have a green thumb, you may consider putting it on the south side of your home to increase its amount of time in the sun.

Cost
There’s no magic formula to predict the cost of your sunroom. Every project is a custom job that’s specified to your exact needs. One tip that may help is that you can save a chunk of money by adding a sunroom to an already existing door, as opposed to adding both a sunroom and an entry/exit point.

Exterior remodeling is a big commitment. Take the time to analyze all aspects of its creation. If you would like help planning your sunroom addition, or for more exterior remodeling ideas, contact Outdoor Environments for your project needs.

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This outdoor room is perfect for children to curl up in and read

Exterior remodeling is often planned for the purpose of adding function and value to a home. But have you ever thought about how changes can enhance playtime for your kids or grand kids?

The design of the outside of your home can completely affect the way that kids enjoy their time once spring arrives. It doesn’t hurt to think about how upcoming projects can benefit them too!

For example, a gazebo can make a perfect playhouse or reading room. And if the structure is a short distance from the house, which they usually are, it can give children a sense of privacy while you can rest assured that they are still close to home.

Another idea that kids might enjoy is a small sunroom addition to prevent that cooped up feeling that lots of children experience when they’re at home.

Whatever your desire, we here at Outdoor Environments can help you explore exterior remodeling ideas. Our staff can consult you and help you with any project, large or small, from start to finish.

image via Outdoor Environments